Apple vs Samsung: Another Win for Apple?

[Pleng]

I think a lot of the Apple vs Anybodyelseintheworld (1 word, will be making it into the dictionry soon, I'm sure) arguments are similar to the Nintendo vs Anybodyelseintheworld arguments.

People talk about inventive, fun games on (the latest generations of) Nintendo consoles compared to impressive hardware specs in the latest XBOX/Play Station. While Apple's hardware may be outdated as soon as it is launched, and later generations of Android phones have more impressive hardware, Apple invested an awful lot in a UI that people found easy to use. If anybody here has used a Windows Mobile 6 device, you'll appreciate how fiddly they are. Apple's 'one button' interface was revolutionary at the time.

I'm not saying I like Apple's products. I do not own one. But while Android and Windows Mobile 7 have now caught up and you could (could, COULD) argue have surpassed Apple in UI design, it's taken long enough for Apple to have established a massive fanbase. That's what you get for being the first to change the game in a marketplace; you get the luxury of being chased, as opposed to the chaser.

That all aside, these patents all sound awfully silly. And that can easily be seen as a market leader abusing their position. But unfortunately, as a limited company, they are obliged to do all they can to maximise the profits for their shareholders. And going any further into that debate will sky rocket this thread off topic into a pro/anti capitalism, uh, thing. So I suggest we don't!

 

[SSVAV]

Those patents Apple owns are fishy.

Owning the patent for multiple touch screens? Sure. But owning a patent because the user slides his finger across the screen?

I don't know who issues patents in the US but they clearly gave Apple several patents that aren't "technical solutions to a problem". The feature to lock a phone is already existent, the feature to input commands via touching the screen too: Apple shouldn't be able to put a patent on the slide to lock feature. Virtual keyboards already exist and again touchscreens already exist: another bogus patent awarded to Apple. The feature to search both in a device and on the web? Windows already does that.

I'm sure if it wasn't Apple demanding those patents they wouldn't have been issued. Apple needs to lose those patents or they are going to make the justice lose even more money because they want to shut down their competition using bogus patents.

And someone retire that judge his license. He is clearly a prick if he has given in to Apple's demands.

 

[Jamstruth]

Patents seem to be there because Apple got there very early. Google is still waiting for their notification system patent to be approved (and I think the start of it probably won't be patented, they basically try to patent the concept notifications) which would enable them to counter Apple. I noticed people defending apple in The Verge comments saying it was different enough not to be covered. If their Notifications Center is different enough then so are these aspects of Google's OS.
It seems that Apple just added "on a mobile device" or "on a touchscreen" to many concepts and had them awarded patents. The US patent office needs an overhaul.

 

[mameks]

this is getting really fucking stupid

 

[triassic911]

this is getting really fucking stupid

Apple's patents in a nutshell. ^^

 

[IBNobody]

We desperately need a new patent system, specially when it comes to mobile. Every name in mobile tech is suing some other company that violated something that they shouldn't have been able to patent in the first place.

It's not just mobile. We need a better software patent system.

Here's a blast-from-the-past (1998). To make it relevant to 2012, replace "Microsoft" with "Apple".

http://www.theonion....nes-zeroes,599/

Microsoft Patents 1's, 0's
...

With the patent, Microsoft's rivals are prohibited from manufacturing or selling products containing zeroes and ones—the mathematical building blocks of all computer languages and programs—unless a royalty fee of 10 cents per digit used is paid to the software giant.​

As a reminder, the Onion is satire. Microsoft didn't really patent 1's and 0's.

 

[Deleted_171835]

It's not just mobile. We need a better software patent system.

Here's a blast-from-the-past (1998). To make it relevant to 2012, replace "Microsoft" with "Apple".

http://www.theonion....nes-zeroes,599/

Microsoft Patents 1's, 0's
...

With the patent, Microsoft's rivals are prohibited from manufacturing or selling products containing zeroes and ones—the mathematical building blocks of all computer languages and programs—unless a royalty fee of 10 cents per digit used is paid to the software giant.​

..........



>The Onion

 

[IBNobody]

>The Onion

I stuck a reminder in there that the story came from the Onion. It's one of my favorite pieces they came up with, second only to the story about the Death Star Daycare program.

 

[Foie]

Remember that one time I hated Apple?

Oh, that's right. I still do. More than ever.

 

[The Catboy]

What another waste of a lawsuit.

 

[AceWarhead]

What another waste of a lawsuit.

And time and money.

 

[ThePowerOutage]

The difference between protecting intellectual property and non competitive practise seems to be forgotten when ape is involved.

 

[mameks]

you know I've just realised that Apple's kinda like my old school in that we had to sign a contract that stated if we invented (or discovered) anything whilst at the school (even during the holidays) then our intellectual property became theirs.
Apple does the same thing: you use something like theirs or invent something technological then it's obviously theirs.

 

[chavosaur]

Apple has to do these lawsuits guys, theyre still pissed off that they cant stop us from jailbreaking. They sue for a lockscreen, yet cant stop the biggest flaw in all of their devices. How sad..

 

[Zetta_x]

you know I've just realised that Apple's kinda like my old school in that we had to sign a contract that stated if we invented (or discovered) anything whilst at the school (even during the holidays) then our intellectual property became theirs.
Apple does the same thing: you use something like theirs or invent something technological then it's obviously theirs.

It's almost as silly as patenting words if you had seen what was patented.

 

[s4mid4re]

Apple is so hypocritical. Apple patents the most negligible things and sues other companies for it, yet has implemented multiples of functions and ideas from Android devices and jailbreak tweaks. It's astounding how people call it a "healthy relationship that keeps the market innovated" when all Apple does is kill competitors while leaching on said competitors.

 

[Sicklyboy]

[...]They sue for a lockscreen, yet cant stop the biggest flaw in all of their devices. How sad..

The fact that their devices are all the same?

 

[Deleted-236924]

When I was a kid, mobile phones didn't even have a menu, they were big blocks with numbers and a button to call, a giant stretchable antenna and a small visor where you could see the numbers you pressed.
I'm ok with phones having so many stuff, but it seems really pointless, phones can photograph and record, well, most people probably have digital cameras with better quality, they play songs, most people already have a music specific device, they have clocks and calendars, when most people usually have a watch...
Meh...

This combines all those devices into one single device, though.

I could choose to carry and old phone + my camera + a watch + a MP3 player, or I could choose to carry one phone.

 

[bazamuffin]

I hate Apple

 

[Sicklyboy]

I hate Apple

I feel like that comment is completely unnecessary unless this stops you from buying a GNex. And for that matter, retailers are still selling the GNex.